UPSC Geo-Scientist 2021 Syllabus: Combined Geo-Scientists and Geologists Examination

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts a Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist Examination (CGGE) for recruitment and selection to the post of Geologist, Geophysicist and Chemist Group ‘A’ in GSI and Junior Hydro-geologist (Scientist ‘B’), Group ‘A’ for Central Ground Water Board. The UPS Commission changed the exam name from ”Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist Examination” to ”Combined Geo-Scientist Examination.”

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Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2020 Exam Pattern

The examination shall be conducted according to the following plan:

• Stage I: Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination consists of Objective questions for the qualification of candidates for Stage II.
• Stage II: Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination shall be a Descriptive Type Paper.
• Stage III: Personality Test.

UPSC Geo-Scientist Exam Syllabus of the Written Exam

Prelims Paper-I: General Studies is common for all streams.

1. Current events of national and international importance.
2. History of India and Indian National Movement.
3. Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
4. Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
5. Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
6. General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change
7. General Science

Geology/ Hydrogeology Syllabus

Prelims

1. Physical Geology
2. Structural Geology
3. Mineralogy
4. Igneous Petrology
5. Metamorphic Petrology
6. Sedimentology
7. Palaeontology
8. Stratigraphy
9. Economic geology
10. Hydrogeology

Mains Paper 1

• Section A: Geomorphology and Remote Sensing
• Section B: Structural Geology
• Section C: Geodynamics
• Section D: Stratigraphy
• Section E: Palaeontology

Mains Paper 2

• Section A: Mineralogy and Geochemistry & Isotope Geology
• Section B: Igneous Petrology
• Section C: Metamorphic Petrology & Processes
• Section D: Sedimentology
• Section E: Environmental Geology and Natural Hazards

Hydrogeology GE Paper

• Section A: Origin, occurrence and distribution of water
• Section B: Groundwater Hydraulics
• Section C: Groundwater Exploration and Water Well Construction
• Section D: Groundwater Quality
• Section E: Groundwater Management

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Geophysics Syllabus

Prelims

1. Solid Earth Geophysics
2.  Mathematical Methods in Geophysics
3. Electromagnetism
4. Geophysical Prospecting
5. Remote Sensing and Thermodynamics
6. Nuclear Physics and Radiometry

Mains Paper 1

• Solid Earth Geophysics
• Earthquake and Engineering Seismology
• Mathematical methods in Geophysics
• Geophysical Inversion
• Mathematical Methods of Physics
• Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
• Electrodynamics
• Introductory Atmospheric and Space Physics

Mains Paper 2

• Geophysical Potential Fields (Gravity and Magnetic)
• Electrical and Electromagnetic methods
• Seismic Prospecting
• Borehole Geophysics (Principles of Well logging)
• Atomic and Molecular Physics and Properties and Characterization of materials
• Nuclear and Particle Physics
• Electromagnetic Theory
• Classical Mechanics

Mains Paper 3

• Radiometric Exploration / Airborne Geophysical surveys for Geological Mapping Marine Geophysics
• Geophysical Signal Processing
• Remote Sensing and GIS applications
• Solid State Physics
• Laser systems
• Laser cavity modes
• Electronics and devices
• Digital electronics, Radar systems, Satellite communications
• Quantum Mechanics

Chemistry Syllabus

Prelims

1. Chemical Periodicity
2. Chemical Bonding and Structure
3. Acids and Bases
4. Theoretical Basis of Quantitative Inorganic Analysis
5. Kinetic Theory and Gaseous State
6. Chemical Thermodynamics and Chemical Equilibrium
7. Solutions of Non-Electrolytes
8. Electrochemistry
9. Basic Organic Chemistry
10. Stereochemistry
11. Types of Organic Reactions
12. Molecular Rearrangements

Mains Paper 1 – (Inorganic Chemistry)

• Chemical periodicity
• Chemical Bonding and structure
• Chemistry of coordination compounds
• Acid-Base reactions
• Precipitation and Redox Reactions
• Organometallic compounds
• Nuclear chemistry
• s-Block Elements
• p-Block Elements
• Chemistry of d- and f- block elements

Mains Paper 2 – (Physical Chemistry)

• Kinetic theory and the gaseous state
• The collision of gas molecules, Real gases
• Liquid state
• Solids
• Thermodynamics
• Application of the Second law of thermodynamics
• Thermodynamics and Equilibrium
• Acids-bases and solvents
• Solutions of non-electrolytes
• Chemical kinetics and catalysis
• Adsorption and Surface Chemistry
• Electrochemistry
• Photochemistry
• Quantum Chemistry
• Basic principles and application of spectroscopy
• UV Spectra
• PMR Spectra

Mains Paper 3 –  (Analytical and Organic Chemistry)

• The theoretical basis of Quantitative inorganic analysis
• Gravimetric Analysis
• Sampling and treatment of samples for chemical analysis
• Volumetric Analysis
• Acid-base titrations
• Redox Titrations
• Potentiometry
• Complexometric titrations
• Chromatographic methods of analysis
• UV-Visible Spectroscopy
• Flame photometry and Atomic absorption spectrometry
• X-ray methods of Analysis
• Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy
• Analysis of Minerals, Ores, and Alloys
• Analysis of petroleum and petroleum products
• Analysis of coal and coke
• Basic organic chemistry
• Organometallic compounds
• Bonding and physical properties
• Aldol and related reactions
• Mechanism of some name reactions
• Electrocyclic Reactions
• Organic Reaction Mechanisms
• Organic Spectroscopy

Eligibility

• A candidate must be either a Citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a subject of Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India. Or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or from Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India provided that a candidate shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
• For Geologist and Geophysicist and Chemist (Group ‘A’) in the Geological Survey of India and Jr. Hydrogeologist (Scientist B) (Group A), you must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the first day of the month of January of the year in which the examination is to be held. The upper age limit is relaxable in certain cases.
• The candidate must possess a Master’s degree in any related field. A list is provided by UPSC under the eligibility criteria.

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Conclusion

UPSC Geologists Exam Selection process is extremely difficult. The exam is for a specialized few but there is still a lack of candidates that sign up for it. However, the vacancies are just a meagre few of around 100 to 150. It is one of the most competitive examinations and it is very important to study and study hard and smart to crack this examination.